Area’s major labor unions support sin tax renewal

The area’s major labor unions are backing the sin tax.In a press release, Keep Cleveland Strong, the campaign supporting passage of Issue 7, announced that both the Cleveland Building & Construction Trades Council and the North Shore Federation of Labor are backing the renewal of the tax on alcohol and cigarettes. The tax has paid for the construction, and will continue to pay for maintenance, of Progressive Field and Quicken Loans Arena, the two sports facilities that make up the Gateway complex.“Those buildings were built by union labor, and the repairs going forward will be done by union men and women,” said Harriet Applegate, executive secretary of the North Shore Federation. “It means jobs, but it also means that we will protect and preserve our very valuable reputation as a major-league city — which is important on multiple levels.”The federation is comprised of 146 labor unions. The construction union council represents 17 trade unions — many of whom helped build the Gateway project and will benefit from whatever maintenance and upgrades are made to the buildings.“I usually start with it means jobs for our members,” said Dave Wondolowski, executive secretary of the building trades council. “But it also means that these buildings will be maintained, meaning they will continue to be important, impressive parts of downtown Cleveland — where there is now a multi-billion revitalization occurring.”Keep Cleveland Strong is backed by the Greater Cleveland Partnership, the regional chamber of commerce. Issue 7 proposes that the current tax on alcohol and cigarettes continue until 2035. The tax is 1 cent per glass of wine, one-and-a-half cents per bottle of beer, $3 per gallon for liquor and about 5 cents per pack of cigarettes.